Words on Writing

Non-Decorative Description

Advanced description problems are harder to diagnose than beginner ones. The prose sounds good, which makes writers protective of it. Unfortunately, readers don’t award bonus points for decorative suffering. Here's how you can create details that imply entire worlds, rather than extremely confident wallpaper.

Reviews: The Strange Economy of Stars and Feelings

In self-publishing, reviews matter. They influence readers, visibility, and your mood more than is sensible. One thoughtful review can buoy your week. One odd complaint can have you pacing around with a cup of hot coffee and a keyboard under threat of serious bodily harm. Here's how to survive the opinion market.

Productive Prose, Better Pages

What writing advertising campaigns taught me about writing faster without writing worse.

The Patience & Panic of Self-Publishing

Most self-publishing advice is practical. All of it's useful. Some of it even works. But self-publishing isn’t just a logistical exercise. It’s an emotional one. Here's some advice for dealing with that.

Writing Mistakes That Feel Clever at the Time. (But Aren’t)

These are the mistakes that feel like progress because they look like writing. They resemble depth, intelligence,emotional weight. Unfortunately, they’re the narrative equivalent of being an Amazon page of shiny fire extinguishers distracting you from the house actually burning down around you. Here's how to deal with them.